A rift has manifested itself in the Chinese lute. The
Americans have forwarded to Europe a despatch which has nor been published, but is deem-IN-el as a protest against ranking demands on China which China cannot grant, the special demand being the one for the execution of the guilty Princes and Mandarins. Washington also objects to an indeninity of any magnitude. It is believed that Russia virtually, if not formally is expressing the same view, which is also snpported by Japan, and with more reserves by both
eetria and France. There remain Germany and Great Bro in, and we give elsewhere reasons for doubting whether eit he, will he willing to incur the expenditure and risks which may be involved in persisting in their demands. There are rumours, indeed, that a modification of the demands, render. fill/ their acceptance less " impossible," has already been accepted in principle, and that China will ultimately escape wit— the payment of a smali indemnity and the making of many promisee on paper. This is, as we have shown elsewhere, equivalent to victory for Chink. Of course, nothing will be settled yet with the Czar so ill, and the debwte
in our own Parliament may have some effect; but the trend of European opinion at this moment is towards retreat.
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